Chapter 6
Selene’s POV
I simply smiled.
No nod, no shake of my head.
It didn’t matter anymore.
Julian Blake had already made his decision.
Whether I agreed or not, my answer was irrelevant.
And as for the pup he so fondly spole of..
There was no pup.
There hadn’t been for a long time.
But he didn’t know,
Not yet
To celebrate Claire’s return to the Pack, a small Moon Banquet was organized a gathering held under the stars, with long tables set in the open courtyard of the Pack House.
Torches flickered in the twilight, casting golden halos around the wolves laughing and roasting.
Julian, still carrying the guilt of taking the estate from me, suggested we attend together.
Claire had extended the invitation personally, her tone sweet as syrup.
1 accepted with the same empty smile.
As the banquet began, the servers carried out platter afterplatter of food, and goblets of rich wine were passed freely among the guests.
I kept my head down, quietly cutting my meat, determined to get through the evening without incident
But Claire had other plans.
She leaned across the table toward me, her voice pitched just high enough for the nearest guests to hear.
“You know,” she said, swirling her wine elegantly, “even if he gave the house to you first, Selene, anything I want, Julian still gives me.
Her smile was bright, her eyes sharp..
Around us, a few wolves shifted uncomfortably, pretending not to listen.
Claire’s gaze locked onto mine, glittering with malicious delight.
“Sweet little Selene,” she cooed mockingly. “You’re still hoping, aren’t you?
Still dreaming you’ll matter more than a momentary whim?”
I kept eating, refusing to rise to her bait.
“Besmart,” Claire said softly, almost kindly. “Sever the bond while you still have dignity.
Don’t wait until julian tires of you and you’re thrown out like yesterday’s scraps.”
I set my knife and fork down carefully, wiping the corners of my mouth with precision
Only then did I lift my eyes to meet hers.
“Are you finished?” I asked, my voice cool, unaffected
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The calmness clearly unsettled her.
She opened her mouth to say more-
but then something changed in her expression.
Out of the comer of her eye, she caught movement–Julian approaching, returning from a phone call.
In a flash, Claire’s expression twisted from smugness to desperate calculation.
without hesitation, she grabbed a goblet of steaming broth from the table and splashed it onto herself with an exaggerated shriek
Her cry split the night air.
The conversation around us died instantly.
Julian nuushed forward, his instincts kicking in as he caught Claire just before she collapsed dramatically into his chest.
Tears welled in her eyes as she clutched at him, trembling.
“Don’t blame Selene,” she gasped brokenly. “She’s angry because you gave me the house.
It’s understandable. I don’t blame her.”
Around us, whispers began to spread like wildfire.
Julian’s eyes darkened as he turned to me, cradling Claire protectively against his chest
“You didn’t have to hurt her, Selene,” he said, voice low with disappointment.
For the first time tonight, my wolf lifted her head, baring her fangs.
I didn’t, I wanted to shout, I didn’t!
Instead, I stood slowly, meeting his accusing gaze with a steady one of my own.
“I didn’t do it,” I said quietly. “I never touched her.”
Julian’s face hardened.
“Even if you’re upset,” he said, “lashing out like this-”
“I didn’t,” I repeated, cutting him off.
The blood roaring in my ears made it hard to hear anything else.
“If you don’t believe me,” I said coldly, “check the surveillance crystals.”
Moon Banquets were sacred Pack events.
It was tradition to record everything, to prevent disputes and violence.
But Julian just sighed heavily, as if I were a stubborn pup refusing to admit my mistakes.
He didn’t even consider checking the proof.
Instead, be seized my wrist roughly.
“You’re coming to the infirmary,” he ordered. “You’ll apologize properly.”
Apologize?
For something I didn’t do?
My wolf howled in protest inside me, but outwardly, I wrenched my arm back.
Julian tightened his grip.
In the struggle, my footing slipped..
My back crashed into the edge of the stone banquet table with a sickening crack.
Pain exploded through my skull.
The world tilted crazily as 1 sank to the ground, crimson warmth gushing down my face.
Through the blur, Theard shocked gasps.
Someone screamed.
“Selene!”
Julian dropped Claire and ran to me, his hands shaking as he lifted me into his arms.
I heard his heart pounding wildly against my ear as he carried me toward the Pack Healers,
But I didn’t cling to him.
I didn’t reach out.
Through the throbbing haze of pain, only one thought remained clear in my mind:
This is not my Mate anymore.
Not truly.
The band had been dying slowly for months..
Tonight, it finally broke.
